Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on oocyte quality in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in-vitro-fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).Method Totally 217 patients with PCOS undergoing IVF-ET were randomized into two groups by the random number table, 119 patients in an EA group and 98 in a control group. In addition to the long-term ovarian hyperstimulation given to the two groups, electroacupuncture was involved in the intervention in the EA group. The spindle, quality of eggs, and pregnancy result were observed and compared.Result The high-quality embryo rate was significantly higher in the EA group than the control group (P<0.05), and compared to the control group, the pregnancy rate was 8.36% higher in the EA group; it’s found that the number of eggs with spindle located between 11 and 1 o’clock was in a significant positive correlation with the level of E2 on the HCG administration day and the high-quality embryo rate (P<0.01); the EA group had a markedly higher ratio of eggs with spindle located between 11 and 1 o’clock compared to the control group (P<0.05); electroacupuncture markedly reduced the dosage and duration of using Gn in the PCOS patients (P<0.05). Conclusion It’s proven the relation between spindle and the quality of eggs; electroacupuncture can enhance the quality of eggs and the pregnancy rate in the PCOS patients.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment on the oocyte quality in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSTotally 217 PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET were assigned to two groups by random digit table, the EA group (119 cases) and the control group (98 cases). All patients received long program ovarian hyperstimulation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. Patients in the EA group received EA treatment in the process of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation till the oocyte retrieval day. The position relation of the spindle to the polocyte, the number of retrieved oocytes, the fertilization rate,the cleavage rate,the high quality embryo rate, the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) incidence rate, the clinical pregnancy rate, the early abortion rate, the gonadotropins (Gn) dose and time, levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and luteinizing hormone (LH) on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) were observed between the two groups.

RESULTSThe ratio of oocytes in which the meiotic spindle deviation angle was < 60 degrees to the all oocytes was obviously higher in the EA group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The oocytes in which the meiotic spindle deviation angle was < 60 degrees was positively related to level of E2 on the HCG day and the high quality embryo rate (r = 0.19,P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the high quality embryo rate increased significantly (P < 0.05), the dose and days of Gn decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the EA group. The clinical pregnancy rate was improved by 8.36%.

CONCLUSIONSThe spindle was positively correlated with the oocyte quality. EA could improve the quality of oocytes and the clinical pregnancy rate in PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Embryo Transfer ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Oocytes ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Progesterone

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mRNA expression of monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8), a thyroid hormone transport protein, in the lateral ventricle of rats with cerebral ischemia.

METHODSImmunofluorescence staining was used to observe the expression of MCT8 in the lateral ventricle of 5 normal SD rats. Another 20 adult male SD rats were randomized into 4 groups and subject to permanent ligation of both the common carotid arteries (2-vessel occlusion, 2VO) for 3 days, 2 weeks, or 5 weeks, or no ligation (control). At the end of the experiment, the transcriptional level of MCT8 in the brain tissue of the rats were detected using fluorescent quantitative PCR.

RESULTSMCT8 mRNA levels in 3-day and 2-week 2VO groups were comparable with that in the control group (P=0.909; P=0.694), but increased significantly in 5-week 2VO group compared with that in the control and 3-day 2VO groups (P=0.029; P=0.023). No significance was found in MCT8 mRNA between the 2-week and 5-week 2VO groups (P=0.065).

CONCLUSIONProlonged cerebral ischemia causes compensatory increase of MCT8 mRNA expression on the capillary endothelial cell membranes in the lateral ventricle of rats.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; Male ; Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of local application of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) via adenovirus-mediated gene transfer on survival of full thickness flaps selected randomly in rats.

METHODSThirty Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 480-520 g were used in this study. A dorsal flap (8 cm x 2 cm) in full thickness with the pedicle located at the level of the iliac crest was designed. Then the rats received 1,012 pfu replication-deficient recombinant adenovirus carrying VEGF (AdCMV-VEGF group, n=10), 1,012 pfu recombinant beta-galactosidase adenovirus (AdCMV-Gal group, n=10) and 1 ml saline (saline group, n=10), respectively, in the distal two thirds of the proposed flap by means of subdermal injection at 8 different locations. Three days after treatment, the flaps were elevated as originally designed and sutured back in situ. The survival rate of the flaps was evaluated on day 7 after operation.

RESULTSThe survival rate of the flaps in the AdCMV-VEGF group increased significantly as compared with those of the AdCMV-Gal group (P<0.01) and the saline group (P<0.01). Immunohistochemical staining showed that VEGF was expressed in the survival flaps injected with AdCMV-VEGF. Histological analysis showed that more granulation tissues and angiogenesis were observed in the AdCMV-VEGF group than those in the AdCMV-Gal and the saline groups.

CONCLUSIONSLocal application of adenovirus-mediated VEGF165 cDNA may efficiently improve the survival of ischemic skin flaps.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surgical Flaps ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have the potential of differentiation into alveolar epithelial cells in vitro, but so far no study has indicated that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) can be differentiated into alveolar epithelial cells through long-term Transwell co-culture. OBJECTIVE: To observe whether rat lung epithelial-T-antigen negative cell lines (RLE-6TN) can induce rat ADSCs to differentiate into type II alveolar epithelial cells by long-term Transwell co-culture. METHODS: Three SPF health female Sprague-Dawley rats were used as donors to separate, extract, culture and identity ADSCs. The experimental group was subjected to the Transwell co-culture of ADSCs and RLE-6TN, while the control group was subjected to the culture of ADSCs alone. The morphological changes of ADSCs were observed by the inverted phase contrast microscope at 21 days after co-culture. Immunofluorescence staining using surfactant protein C (SP-C) was performed on the co-cultured ADSCs. The fluorescence staining was observed using the inverted fluorescence microscope. Integral optical density (IOD) analysis was conducted by Image pro plus 6.0 software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: RLE-6TN cells were identified by fluorescence staining with stable expression of SP-C protein (red fluorescence) in the experimental group, and there was no red fluorescence in the control group. After 21-day co-culture, the cell shape in the experimental group was transformed from the long spindle shape into oval or polygon shape gradually, while the cell shape in the control group remained fibroblast-like. These results show that RLE-6TN can induce ADSCs to differentiate into type II alveolar epithelial cells after a long-term (21 days) co-culture.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the polluted SY River on children's growth and sex hormones, and provide scientific data for assessment of the polluted status of the SY River.

METHODSThe study areas were selected randomly from the SY River Basin. Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), phthalates (DEP, DBP, DMP, DEHP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were measured both in the river water and in the drinking water. School children were selected by cluster sampling (n=154). Physical development indexes (height, weight, bust-circumference, and skinfold thickness) and sex hormones [testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2)] were measured for all the children.

RESULTSThe contents of Pb and Hg exceeded Class V standards of surface water quality in each section of the river and other indicators exceeded Class III. Compared to the control area, the concentrations of Pb, Hg, As, BPA, DEP, and DBP in the drinking water were significantly higher than in the polluted area (P<0.05). Children from the control area had significantly lower E2 and T than children from the polluted area (P<0.05). Among anthropometric results, only skinfold thickness had statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), while the other indexes showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe drinking water has been polluted by the SY River and affected serum sex hormone levels of children living in the polluted area.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Development ; drug effects ; Child ; Child Development ; drug effects ; China ; Female ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Rivers ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; toxicity ; Water Pollution, Chemical ; adverse effects ; Water Supply ; analysis

Objective To involve informatized measures into medical equipment maintenance to enhance their clinical quality and safety.Methods A medical equipment maintenance management system was developed with C/S and B/S to establish the architecture,PowerBuilder language for programming and SQL Server 2008 database for data storage and inquiry.Results 2-a clinical trial proved the system had high stability,which facilitated maintenance application as well as inquiry and statistical analysis on maintenance records through network.Concinsion The system realizes informatized medical equipment maintenance management and promotes medical equipment maintenance management.